Portable oil heater



Feb. 2 1926. 1,511,301

M. RESEK PORTABLE OIL HEATER Filed April 30 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 2 ,1926. 1 1,571,301

- M. RESEK PORTABLE OIL HEATER Fil April 30, 1924 e Sheets-Sheet 2 6 Sheets-Sheet :5

Feb. 2 1926.

M. RESEK PORTABLE OIL HEATER Flled Ap ll 30, 1924 Jim 6010f Feb 2 1926. 1,5713 01 A M. RESEK PORTABLE OIL HEAT ER Filed Apri so. 1924 e sums-sheet 4 brew/0r .Jy {H M M. RESEK PORTABLE OIL HEATER Feb. 2 1926.

Filed April 30, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,301

- M. RESEK PORTABLE OIL HEATER Filed April 30. 4 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 f/ire/lfax' 3 OM.. M

Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES MARC BESEK, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOE TO PERFECTION STOVE COM PATENT OFFICE.

PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PORTABLE OIL HEATER.

Application filed April 30, 1924. Serial No. 710,014.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mano RESEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Oil Heaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to in'iprovements in portable oil heaters of the type comprising a base which carries the oil reservoir and burner and to which is hingedly connected a drum provided with a bail by means of which the heater may be lifted about from place to place, the invention having to do more particularly with an improved latch that was devised as, a substitute for spring latches heretofore employed in heaters of the kind referred to for connecting the drum to the base.

lVhen a spring latch-is used for connecting the free edge of the drum to the adja cent side of the base, the drum has to be swung or pressed with considerable force to no mal position in order to cause the latch to assume holding condition, and not infrequently have accidents occurred or been narrowly averted when the heater is lifted by the bail because the spring latch has failed to catch and as a consequence thereof the base has swung down from the drum; and, furthermore, unless the spring latch is actually caught during the time the heater is in operation, the drum is maintained at a slight angle with respect to the base and out of ctlicient operative position with re spect to the burner with the result that the heater does not perform properly and efliciently and smokes by reason of disturbing drafts through the drum and about the burner.

It is the primary purpose of my invention to provide a latch for connecting together the drum and base of a portable oil heater, and which automatically assumes effective condition when one of said members is presented in a given relation to the other member, the latch being so designed that positive operation is assured when said members assume such relation.

As will be readily appreciated from a consideration of the. various modifications illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described in detail, the invention is especially well adapted for the pu1= pose in view. In the first place the invention, in its various embodiments, is devoid of springs; the parts are so designed that the movable latch element is positively moved into holding engagement with the keeper when the members to which the respective coacting parts of the latch are attached are brought into normal relation; the parts of the latch are incapable of as suming a position wherein they would prevent said members from assuming normal relation; and, in the more desirable forms of the invention, the latch has a plurality of holding positions so that in caseone should fail for some reason, another will accomplish the holding of the members together. Furthermore, the latch is so designed that one of the cooperating latch partsthat carried by the drum of a heater, for exampleserves as a handle for lifting the drum, the part being shaped so as to suggest such use and to provide a comfortable grip for the finger.

Further objects are to provide a simple and inexpensive latch of the character above described that may be made entirely of sheet metal parts; that is strong and durable and is positive in its holding action; that may be easily and quickly assembled; and that is designed to properly position the coacting parts with respect to each other as the parts are brought together.

The foregoing objects, with others hereinafter appearing, are attained by the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a portable oil heater equipped with one form of my improved latch; Fig. 2 shows the latch and'adjacent heater parts in sectional side elevation; Fig. 3 is a frontelevat-ion of the parts shown .in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the latch element withdrawn from holding position; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, a sectional side elevation and front view of a modification of the invention; Figs. 8 and 9 are views, similar to Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, of a further modification; Figs. 10 and 11 are a sectional side elevation and a front view, respectively, of another form of the invention; Fig. 12 is a sectional side elevation of a still further modification,

while Fig. 13 is a section on the line 133-43 of Fig. 12; ltis sectional side ele vation of another form,tlie view being reversed as to the'side from which it is taken with respect to the similar views-of the previous modifications; Fig. is a section on the line 1515 of Fig. 14; Fig. -16-shows the latch of the two preceding views in ineffective condition; Fig. 17 is a sectiona'l side elevation of a form of the invention somewhat similar to that illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16; Fig. 18 is a sectional detail on the line 18118 of Fig. 17;.Fig. 19 is a sectional side elevation of a .form of the invention quite similar to that illustrated in Fig. :17; and

.Fig. is a section on the correspondingly.

numbered line of Fig. 19.

The oil heater,-i n connection with which "I have showniny improved latch, comprises generally a drum or flue 1 having a cap 2 and'is equipped with'the usual burner "(not shown) and a bottom flange 3, and the drum or fine is hinged to a base 5 supported by legs 6 a suitable distance from the floor. An oil reservoir 7 is supported within the base 5 The axis of the hinge connection between the drum and base is designated '10. Abail or handle 11 has its endsengaged through apertures in the projecting edge ,portion of the cap 12.and by means of-the bail or=handle the heater may be lifted and transported from place to place and t he drum may be swung from tilted to upright position over the base. For a more complete disclosure-of the heater. reference may be had to Je-avons Patent No.-1,04;5,409, dated November26, 1912.

To fit the heaterv for the incorporation of the forms of my invention illustrated in -Figs. 1 to 11, the flange-3, at a point diaabout a wire '15 which iniparts-rigidityto the base.

Describing first that form of the invention illustratedin Figs. 1 to 5, 16 represents a keeper that is preferably constructedof strap-metal and has its lowerend 17 turned outwardly to form a latch element engaging. portion-and its-upper end turned outwardly and downwardlyto provide an abutment .18 and a lip 19. The lip 19 constitutes-a secondary keeper, J as will hereinafter appear, while the abutment 18 cooperates with a part of the latch element topositivelypresentthe nose of said element in holding relation to the end 17.

The numeral 20 refers generally to a latch element constructed of sheet metal and formed with opposeddugs 21 which are adapted to be engaged-between the-ears 1 1. The'ears and lugs have apertures through which a pintle 22 is extended for pivotally connecting the latch element to the flange 3 of the drum. The upper end of the latch element is extended beyond the lugs 21 to provide a stop 23 which engages the adjacent portion ofthe flange 8 to limit the out ward movement of the lower end of the element; and the lower end of the element is formed to providea finger hold or .grip 2 1, the'terminal'of which constitutes illlQ'lIOSG '25 of 'the latch. The latch element 20 is shown as having acentral bead that extends from one of its ends1to the other to stiffen The lower end 17 of the keeper 16 is projected outwardly through a slot in the .base 5, while the upper end of the keeper 'isengaged over the wired upper ede'e of -the base. A bolt 26 extends through the body portion of the keeper and through the wall of the'base fito secure the parts 'together. "Vile-111615 desired togain access to .the

burner'or'the oil reservoir, the finger may be engaged through'the grip2 l of the latch element 20 andthe same swung outwardly untilit assumes the positionshown in Fig.

4'iiiwhich-position it is stopped relative to the drum by the engagement of thestop 23 withthe adja'centportion of the flange 3 and further lifting of the latch element will causethe drum to swing. upwardly from the base. VVhen swingingthe drum to normal position, as by .means of the bail 1], the

latch element hangs against the drum flange in the same position with respect thereto as illustrated in 'Fig. 2. The nose 25 rides over'the end 17 of thekeeper and when it is'below the plane thereof the lower edges of the lugs 21 engage the abutment 18 and the weightiof the drum causes said lngsto seat squarely upon .tlieabutment and as a result thereof the nose of the latchis positively projected beneath the lower end 17 of the keeper. llVhen the latch is in effective condition the heater may be lifted by the bail 11 without danger of the base dropping. i Should the drum fail to drop to normal position with respect to the base through any cause, as by the presence of some obstruction between the edge ofthe base and the flange of. the drum so that the nose of the latch wouldnot be engaged beneath the end v17 of'the keeper. and under such conditions the heater should be lifted byineans of the bail 11, the nose 25'of the latch element will drop beneath the lip 19 and prevent the base from swinging free, thus preventing a possible dumping of the reservoir 7.

As is generally understood, there is more or less twisting and warping in sheet metal constructions such as that represented by the present heater and in view of this the free edge of the drum is capable of shifting laterally within certain limits with respect to the keeper. In order to bring the parts into proper transverse relation as the drum descends upon the base, I incline the ends 13 of the opening 12, as previously described, so that in case the drum is displaced laterally with respect to the b te the ends 13 will engage the edges of the abutments l8 and cam the drum to correct position.

thereby to properly present the lugs 21 to the abutment l8 and the nose 25 to the end 1? of the keeper.

The modification of the invention illus trated in Figs. 6 and 'Z is distinguished from that above described by a different form of latch element. The present one, designated 23-0 is formed of a metal strap and in such manner as to provide an eye 31 through which the pintle is engaged. The portion 32 of the element in the region of said eye is made fiat for engagement with the abutment 18 of the keeper 16. The upper end of the element is shaped to form a stop 33, corresponding to the step 23 of the previous form, and at its lower end the latch element has a grip portion 3% and nose 85. In the present case, the grip portion of the element is headed throughout its lengta to strengthen it.

The latch element 37, in the form of the invention illustrated. in S and 9, is constrmted of a sheet metal stamping having laterally spaced opposed lugs 38 at its upper end that are adapted to be disposed between the ears l t, said lugs and the intermediate portion of the latch element having axially aligned apertures through which the pintle 22 is extended. It will be noted thatione of the lugs 88 rises from a sidewise extension 39 which is parallel to the lower edge of the other lug and with said lower edge is adapted to seat upon an abutment 40 formed by the outwardly turned upper end of a keeper ll which has its lower end 42 extended for- \i ardly through a slot in the wall of the base 5 where. it may be engaged by the nose 4-3 of the latch element. Undue outward movement of the latch element with respect to the drum is prevented by the engagement of the portion A of the element with the adjacent part of the flange 3.

In case the heater is lifted when for any reason, the nose 13 is out of holding relation with the lower end 42 of the keeper, the nose is adapted to catch upon the forward end of the abutment port-ion 4:0 and prevent complete separation of the free edges of the drum and base; and in order to make the holding of the nose upon said abutment portion more secure, the upper edge of the extreme end portion 45 of the nose cut at an angle which assumes substantially parallel relation to the portion 40 whenthe base and, drunrare .separated enough to bring the nose into engagement with said portion.

The only essential differences between the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, and that just described, are the omission in the present instance of the extra holding part on the nose l6 of the latch elen'ient t? and the formationof the upper end f said element. In this case a portion 48 is extended laterally from the lower edge of the head 49 of said element and thence upwardly to provide a lug 50. The lug and head have aligned apertures through which the pintle is engaged to pivotally connect the element to the ears 14:. The portion 48 seats upon the abutment $0 of the keeper 11, and the outwardly swinging movement of the latch element is limited by the engagementof the head 49 and lug 50 with the adjacent portion of the flange 3.

The latch elements in this and the immediately preceding embodiment are formed to provide finger holds or grips 52; and the corresponding elements of all the foregoing modifications are restrained against undue inward movement by the engagement of their portions immediately above the finger holds with the edge portion of the flange 3. Because the latch elements are thus restrained from swinging inwardly beyond a given point, their noses are in a position to ride over the keeper as the drum assumes normal position with respect to the base. Consequently it is impossible for the latch elements to assume a positionwherein they will interfere. the base. 7

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the opening 12 in the flange 3 of the drum 1 is dispensed with and a bracket 55 is secured. as by a rivet 56, to the inner side of the flange and the same incorporates laterally spaced ears 5? which have parts engaging beneath the lower edge of the flange so that the bracket is very securely locked in position. A sheet metal latch element 58 has a yoke :'39 riveted or otherwise secured to its upper end and the ends of the yoke constitute lugs 60 which are disposed between the ears 57 and are pivotally' connected thereto by a pintle 6.1 that passes through aligning apertures. in the ears, lugs and the ith the descent of the drum upon int-ermeijliate part of the latch element. The

latch element is extended above the yoke 59 to provide a stop 62 which coacts with the inner side of the bracket to prevent undue inward movement of the nose 63 of the latch. Opposed to the nose 63 is a portion 64; which is adapted to seat upon an abutment 615 constituted of the forwardly extended upper end of a keeper 66 which has its lower end 6'? arranged for engagement by the nose 6%, the keeper being substahtially U shaped and having its.branehes pro" ted outwardly through slots in the wall 0 K the i1 30 base 5 while its body portion is secured to said wall by a bolt 67. The latch element isoit a shape to provide a finger hold 68. The operation of the present modification will be readily understood from the operation of the previously described forms although it may be added that the nose 68 is adapted to engage with the underside of the abutment 65 in the event that it fails to catch upon the portion 67.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in the remaining views of the drawings the latch elements are hung from the flange 3 in brackets identical with the bracket 55 described in connection with the immediately preceding modification and accordingly the brackets and their parts will be designated in said remaining views by the same reference characters.

Referring to Figs. 14, 15, and 16, the latch element is designated 70 and it has lugs 71 secured to and spaced from its opposite sides through which and an intermediate portion of the element the pintle 61 extends, the pintle being supported by the cars 57 of the bracket 55. The latch element terminates at its lower end in a finger grip 73 and at its upper end in av hook which extends through a slot 74 in the flange 3. The end of the hook is shaped to provide a nose 75 which is adapted to pass through a slot 7 6 formed in the wall of the base 5 immediately below the wire 15 and through a registering slot in a plate 77 that is secured by a bolt 78 to said wall. Said plate has its lower end turned outwardly to provide an abutment portion 7 9 wherewith a part 80 of the latch element is adapted to engage.

hen it is desired to swing the drum upon its hinge, the latch element is grasped by the finger grip 7 3 and rocked to the position shown in Fig. 1G to withdraw its nose 7 5 from beneath the wired upper edge of thebase 51 which in the present instance as well as in the modifications presently to be described, constitutes the keeper. The latch is thus rendered ineffective so that the drum may be lifted. \Vhen the drum is returned to substantially upright position the part 80 of the latch element engages the abutment 7 9 and as the drum settles to final position the latch element is rocked to the position shown in Fig.14 with its nose projecting through the slot 7 6.

The construction and operation of the two remaining modifications, which are illustrated, one in Figs. 17 and 18,'and the other in Figs. 19 and 20, will be clear from the description of the immediately preceding form which is essentially the same. The only marked difference between. the modifications in question are in the shape of the latch elements and the application of the pivot lugs. The same reference characters are used to designate the corresponding parts throughout the views illustrating these various cmbodiments. In the form illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18, a lug 71 is secured to the latch element 70 in opposed relation to the part 80 thereof, and the pintle 61 is passed through apertures in said opposed parts and in the cars 57 of the bracket 55.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20, a yoke formed of a strap is engaged about the latch element 70 and its separated ends provide'lngs 71 which are disposed between the. ears 57 of the bracket The yoke is shown as secured to said element by means of a rivet and its central portion is contained within a notch 70 that is formed in the outer edge of the latch element, while the extreme end portion 71 of the lug 71 coacts with the abutment 79 to rock the latch element to effective position as the drum assumes upright position over the base.

Attention is called to the fact that in each of the several embodiments of the invention herein disclosed the latch element depends, not on its own gravity, but the weight of the heater drum to maintain it in holding engagement with the keeper. As a consequence of this the heater may be tilted considerably toward the side on which the latch is located without the latch element swinging away from the keeper. As long as the drum is substantially in normal relation to the base the latch will be positively held in effective condition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto; latch mechanism including an element that is movably carried by the drum and by means of which the drum may be swung with respect to the base, said element being moved with respect to the drum during such operation, and a second latch element wherewith the former element coacts for securing the drum in operative relation to the base, the drum being released when the first-mentioned latch element is moved in one direction with respect to the drum, and being secured in operative relation to the base when said first-mentioned element is moved in a reverse direction with respect to the drum.

2. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the free edge of the drum for free swinging movement with respect thereto, the base incorporating a keeper and an abutment portion, the latch element having a part arranged to engage said abutment portion thereby to swing the latch element into holding relation to the keeper.

3. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the free side of the drum, and a member secured to the base and incorporating an abutment and a keeper, the latch element including an abutment engaging portion and a nose, the nose being presented in holding relation to the keeper when the abutment engaging portion bears upon the abutment.

i. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the free side of the drum, the base incorporating an abutment portion and a keeper, the latch element having a part arranged to engage the abutment portion thereby to present the latch element in holding relation to the keeper, the latch element having a part co operating with an adjacent portion of the drum to limit the movement of the element as it is withdrawn fronithe keeper.

5. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmountingthe base and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the free side of the drum, and a member secured to the base and incorporating an abutment and a keeper, the latch element including an abutment engaging portion and a nose, the nose being presented in holding relation to the keeper when the abutment engaging portion bears upon the abutment, the latch element having parts cooperating with the drum to limit its swinging movement with respect thereto in both directions.

6. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connect-ed thereto at one side, the

free side of the drum having laterally spaced ears; a latch element having laterally spaced lugs that are disposed alongside said ears, means pivotally connecting the lugs to the ears, the latch element incorporating a finger grip and a nose, and a member secured to the base and incorporating an abutment and a keeper, the aforesaid lugs being designed to bear upon the abutment and position the latch element with its nose in holding relation to the keeper.

7. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto atone side and involving a bottom flange which extends outwardly over the top edge of the base, said flange having an opening adjacent the free side of the drum and ears disposed on opposite sides of said opening; a latch element having a part disposed between said ears, pivot means extending through aligned apertures of said part and said ears, thereby to pivotally connect the latch element to the flange, a member secured to the base and having an abutment exposed through said opening and a keeper spaced therebelow, the" latch element incorporating an abutment engaging portion and a nose, said portion being arranged to bear upon the abutment and thus position the latch element with its nose in holding relation to the keeper.

8. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side, and involving a bottom flange which extends outwardly over the top edge of the base, said flange having an opening adjacent the free side of the drum and ears adjacent the lateral sides of said opening; a latch element having laterally spaced lugs disposed between said ears, means extending through aligned apertures in the ears and lugs thereby to pivotally connect the latch element to the flange, the latch elementhaving a nose, a member secured to the base and including an abutment exposed through the aforesaid opening and a keeper spaced below the abutment, the aforesaid lugs of the latch element being designed to bear upon the abutment and through cooperation: therewith position the latch element with its nose in holding relation to the keeper. 7 I i 9. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side and involving a bottom flange which extends outwardly over the edge of the base, the drum being capable of lateral movement with respect to the base, said flange having an opening adjacent the free side of the drum; a member secured to the base and having a portion which is adapted to project throughsaid opening when the drum is in normal position with respect to the base, the ends of the opening being inclined inwardly and upwardly for engagement with the aforesaid portion of the member so as to cam the drum to correct position, a latch element pivotally connected to the flange of the drum, and a keeper carried by'the base and wherewith said element is adapted to have holding engagement.

10. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting thebase and hingedly connected thereto at one side and involving a bottom flange which extends outwardly overthe edge of the base, said flange having an opening adjacent the free sides of the drum, the lateral edges of which opening converge upwardly, the flange havmg ears ad acent the lateral side of the opening; a latch element havlng a part disposed between said ears, means pivotally connecting said part to the ears, the latch element having a nose, and a member secured to the base and having an abutment portionexposed through the opening of the flange and a keeper spaced below the abut -v ment, the latch element. having, a portion arranged to bear upon the abutment and thereby position the latch elementwith its nose in holding relation to the keeper, the

inclined ends of the said opening co-acting with the lateral edges of said abutment to correct any lateral displacement of the drum with respect to the base.

- 11. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmountingthe base and hingedly connected thereto at one side l and involving a bottom flange that extends outwardly over the edge of the base, said flange having an opening adjacent the free side of the drum and ears adjacent the ends of the opening; a. latch element having lugs disposed between said ears, means co-operating with said lugs and ears to pivotally connect the latch element and flange,

the latch element being formed at its lower end to provide a finger grip which terminates in a nose, a member secured to the base and having an abutment exposed through said opening and a keeper spaced therebelow, the aforesaidlugs being arranged to bear upon-the abutment andthus position the latch element-with its nose in holding relation to the keeper, the latch element having parts disposed longitudinally thereof on opposite sides of its pivotal axis for engagement with the flange.

to limit the swinging movement of the latch element in opposite directions.

12. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum .surmounting the base-and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a

latch element pivotally connected to the drum-adj acent the free side thereof, and vertically spaced keepers carried by the base with either of which the latclrelement is,

adapted tohave holding engagement.

13. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the drum adjacent the free side thereof, and

latch element pivotally connected to the drum adjacent its free side, said latch element having an abutment engaging portion and a keeper engaging portion, the base being provided with an abutment and with spaced keepers, the keeper engaging portion ofthe latch element being adapted to have holding engagement with either of the keepers, the abutment-engaging portion of the latch element serving when in contact with the abutment to position the latch element with its keeper engaging portion in holding relation to one of said keepers.

15, In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the drum adjacent its free side, a member secured to the base and incorporating an abutment and a main keeper and an auxiliary keeper, the latch element having a part arranged to engage the abutment thereby to position the latch element in holding relation to the main keeper.

16. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto at one side and involving a flange extending outwardly over the edge of the base, said flange having an opening and ears adjacent the ends of said opening; a latch element having an elongated body portion from the edges. of one end of which depend lugs that are disposed between the aforesaid ears, pivot means extending through the lugs and ears thereby to pivotally connect the latch element to the flange, the free end of the latch element being curled inwardly and upwardly to provide a finger grip and a keeper engaging nose, a member secured to the base and having at its upper end an abutment exposed through the aforesaid opening and at its lower end an outwardly extending keeper, said member having also a depending lip at the outer end of the abutment, the aforesaid lugs being arranged to bear upon the abutment and thus position the latch element with its nose beneath the keeper.

17. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected'thereto at one side; a latch element pivotally connected to the drum-adjacent the free side thereof, a keeper on'the base and wherewith the latch element is adapted to have holding engagement, the latch element having a cam surface whichengages a portion of the base so that the weight of the drumacting through the pivot, latch member and cam surface forces the latch element into engagement with the keeper.

18. Ina portable 'oil heater consisting of tworelatively movable members, one a base and the other a drum surmountingthe base; a latch element movably carried by-one of said members, a keeper carried by the other member and wherewith the latch element is adapted to have holding engagement,=said other member having an abutment arranged to be engaged by a part of the latch element whereby the latch element will i be positively moved into holding position as the members assume normal relative position", the latch element and said other member cooperating to move said elem'entinto a position wherein it will pass the keeper as the members approach normal relative position.

19. in a portable oil heater comprised of two members relatively movable into and out of normal relative position and capable of limited lateral movement with respect to each other, one of said members consisting of a base and one consisting of a drum surmounting the base; a latch element movably carried by one oi said members, a keeper arried by the other member and wherewith the latch element is adapted to have holding engagement, the said other member having an abutment arranged to be engaged by a part of the latch element whereby said element will be positively moved into holding position as the members assume normal relative position, the members having parts cooperating to correct any lateral displacement of? one member with re,- spect to the other as said members approach said normal relative position.

20. In a portable oil heater consisting of two relatively movable members, one a base and the other a drum surmounting the base; a. latch element movably carried by one of said members, keepers carried by the other member and spaced apart and wherewith the latch element is adapted to have holding engagement, said other member having an abutment arranged to be engaged by a part of the latch element whereby the latch element will be positively moved into holding engagement with one of the keepers as the members assume normal relative position, the other keeper being arranged to be en gaged by the latch element in case it escapes the former keeper.

21. In a portable oil heater consisting of two relatively movable members, one a base and the other a. drum surmounting the base; a latch element movably carried by one of said members, and a keeper carried by the other member and wherewith the latch element is adapted to have holding engagement, the latch element and said other member co-acting to move the latch element into holding position as the members assume normal relative position.

22. In a portable oil heater consisting of a base, and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto and involving a bottom flange which extends outwardly over the top edge of the base, said flange having an opening and ears disposed on 0pposite sides of said opening; a lever having a part disposed between said ears, pivot means extending through aligned apertures of said part and said ears, thereby to pivot-ally connect the lever to the flange, the lever being adapted to be used asa handle for tilting the drum with respect to he base, and latch for connecting the drum to the base, which latch is engaged when the lever is swung in one direction on its pivot and is released when the lever is swung in the opposite direction.

23. in a portable oil heater consisting of a base and a drum surmounting the base and hingedly connected thereto; a handle loosely pivoted to the drum for tilting the same, said handle being swung on its pivot in one direction when used for lifting the drum and tending when released to swing in the other direction by gravity, and a latch memher arranged to be engaged by said handle when the handle is swung in said other direction and when the drum and base are in normal operative relation for holding the drum to the base.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my signature.

MARC RESEK. 

